The Glastonbury Free Press has become a popular fixture at the Somerset mega-festival. Its print workshop has been part of the Theatre & Circus fields for 12 years, attracting retro printing fans of all ages.
A team of experienced printers produce a free sheet newspaper on a 70-year-old Heidelberg OHZ-S Cylinder press, with around 30,000 copies distributed over the course of the event.
Letterpress posters are also on sale from the print tent.
Heidelberg hailed the Glastonbury Cylinder as “still in perfect running condition… testament to the long and storied history of Heidelberg in the printing industry”.
Through the partnership Heidelberg will provide an apprenticeship to a young person from the festival or its partners, who will be able to train as a printing machine engineer.
Heidelberg UK managing director Ryan Miles said he was thrilled about the collaboration.
“The Free Press at Glastonbury is a real piece of Heidelberg history. This year, Heidelberg celebrates its 175th anniversary, creating the perfect opportunity to give back to the local community.
“We are delighted to be able to give a young person working in the festival the opportunity to be part of the Heidelberg Apprentice Scheme.”
In addition, there will be a mini-exhibition in the nearby garden detailing the history of Heidelberg; while a team from Heidelberg UK will attend the festival, spreading the word about the apprenticeship opportunity and sharing their passion for print – and Heidelberg.
As well as the 175th anniversary of Heidelberg, this year also marks 50 years since Heidelberg Germany became the owner of the Heidelberg UK business.
The manufacturer also provided a specification sheet, below, for the original Cylinders, which were able to use greater force and had more precision than the platen presses that preceded them, because the impression area is delivered in a strip rather than across the whole type area at once.
This year’s Glastonbury Festival runs from 25 June – 29 June. The 1975, Alanis Morissette, Neil Young, The Prodigy and Rod Stewart are among the headline acts, and the festival also features a first time set from synth-pop legend Gary Numan.
